14/02/2023
RAVULA ARMSTRONG AND NALAGA DECLARE THEIR INTEREST FOR FIJI JUMPER
"We want to play for Fiji U20s at the World championships in June ....."
Those words should be music to the ears of our Fiji U20 coaches .
At present , the Fiji U20 has a handful of players that will be out for the Rugby World Championships in June , including fly half Sikeli Rabitu ( shoulder surgery) and young crack center Aisea Tuisese who looks likely to have a knee operation .
The good news is two young talent that could be long term investments in to Fiji Rugby have declared their availability for Fiji U20 .
Young emerging fly half and Hurricanes U20 player Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula and hard running centre Waqa Nalaga have made their intentions of donning the white jersey ahead of the World Championship in South Africa in June .
Waqa Nalaga the youngest sibling of former Flying Fijian Napolioni Nalaga rise is astonishing.. from scholarship at Wanganiu to Manawatu Academy and straight into Hurricanes U20 and NZ U19 tour of SA , the rookie centre played for the Wellington Hurricanes in their pre season trial over the weekend .
Isaiah Armstrong Ravula a gifted fly half who is the nephew of current All Blacks incumbent five eight Richie Mounga has accelerated over the last 12 months from secondary school rugby to NZ Barbarians , NZ School Boys U18 , Manawatu Turbos and Hurricanes U20 this season.
Given five eight is a position Fiji rugby hasnt been blessed with over the last two decades , we hope Fiji Rugby will go out of it's way to secure his services . IAR has the potential to be the next long term pivot for the Flying Fijians.
The two room mates are focused on the upcoming S20 tournament next month for Hurricanes U20 where they will play the Fiji Drua U20 and hope to secure a spot on our roster for Fiji U20 to the world Championship.
For certainty, the FRU and Fiji U20 must make all attempts to secure these two promising lads and build a healthy squad around them in abid to do well at the championships and also retain their position in the top league instead of being relegated.
The Fiji U20 will play Australia, England and Ireland at the World Championships .